VENTAVIS, Iloprost Form


Ventavis (iloprost) Initial Approval for PAH

Notes: Initial approval is for Medicaid/HIM – 6 months; Commercial – 12 months or duration of request, whichever is less.

Indications

(566335) Does the patient have a diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)? 
(566336) Is the prescription provided by or in consultation with a cardiologist or pulmonologist? 
(566337) Has the patient failed a calcium channel blocker treatment, or is there a contraindication or clinically significant adverse effects to calcium channel blockers or failure during acute vasodilator testing? 
(566338) Is the prescribed dose not exceeding 45 mcg per day? 

Ventavis (iloprost) Continued Therapy for PAH

Notes: Approval duration for continued therapy is Medicaid/HIM – 12 months, Commercial – 12 months or duration of request, whichever is less.

Indications

(566339) Was the member previously approved for Ventavis therapy via Centene benefit or has the initial approval criteria been previously met? 

YesNoN/A
YesNoN/A
YesNoN/A

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Effective Date

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Last Reviewed

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Original Document

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Iloprost (Ventavis®) is a synthetic prostacyclin analog. FDA Approved Indication(s) Ventavis is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (World Health Organization [WHO] Group 1) to improve a composite endpoint consisting of exercise tolerance, symptoms (New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class), and lack of deterioration. Studies establishing effectiveness included predominately patients with NYHA Functional Class III-IV symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (65%) or PAH associated with connective tissue diseases (23%). Policy/Criteria Provider must submit documentation (such as office chart notes, lab results or other clinical information) supporting that member has met all approval criteria.
It is the policy of health plans affiliated with Centene Corporation® that Ventavis is medically necessary when the following criteria are met:
I. Initial Approval Criteria
A. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (must meet all):

  1. Diagnosis of PAH;
    1. Prescribed by or in consultation with a cardiologist or pulmonologist;
    2. Failure of a calcium channel blocker (see Appendix B), unless member meets one of the following (a or b):
      a. Inadequate response or contraindication to acute vasodilator testing; b. Contraindication or clinically significant adverse effects to calcium channel blockers are experienced;
    3. Dose does not exceed 45 mcg per day. Approval duration:
      Medicaid/HIM – 6 months
      Commercial – 12 months or duration of request, whichever is less B. Other diagnoses/indications (must meet 1 or 2):
  2. If this drug has recently (within the last 6 months) undergone a label change (e.g., newly approved indication, age expansion, new dosing regimen) that is not yet reflected in this policy, refer to one of the following policies (a or b): Page 1 of 8

    CLINICAL POLICY
    Iloprost a. For drugs on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the no coverage criteria policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.33 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.255 for Medicaid; or b. For drugs NOT on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the non-formulary policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.103 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.16 for Medicaid; or

  3. If the requested use (e.g., diagnosis, age, dosing regimen) is NOT specifically listed under section III (Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized) AND criterion 1 above does not apply, refer to the off-label use policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid. II. Continued Therapy A. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (must meet all):
    1. Member meets one of the following (a or b): a. Currently receiving medication via Centene benefit or member has previously met initial approval criteria; b. Member is currently receiving medication and is enrolled in a state and product with continuity of care regulations (refer to state specific addendums for CC.PHARM.03A and CC.PHARM.03B);
    2. Member is responding positively to therapy;
    3. If request is for a dose increase, new dose does not exceed 45 mcg per day. Approval duration:
      Medicaid/HIM – 12 months Commercial – 12 months or duration of request, whichever is less B. Other diagnoses/indications (must meet 1 or 2):
  4. If this drug has recently (within the last 6 months) undergone a label change (e.g., newly approved indication, age expansion, new dosing regimen) that is not yet reflected in this policy, refer to one of the following policies (a or b): a. For drugs on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the no coverage criteria policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.33 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.255 for Medicaid; or b. For drugs NOT on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the non-formulary policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.103 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.16 for Medicaid; or
  5. If the requested use (e.g., diagnosis, age, dosing regimen) is NOT specifically listed under section III (Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized) AND criterion 1 above does not apply, refer to the off-label use policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid.
    Page 2 of 8

    CLINICAL POLICY
    Iloprost III. Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized:
    A. Non-FDA approved indications, which are not addressed in this policy, unless there is sufficient documentation of efficacy and safety according to the off label use policies – CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid, or evidence of coverage documents. IV. Appendices/General Information Appendix A: Abbreviation/Acronym Key CTEPH: chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension FC: functional class FDA: Food and Drug Administration
    NYHA: New York Heart Association PA: physical activity PAH: pulmonary arterial hypertension PH: pulmonary hypertension WHO: World Health Organization Appendix B: Therapeutic Alternatives
    This table provides a listing of preferred alternative therapy recommended in the approval criteria. The drugs listed here may not be a formulary agent and may require prior authorization.
    Drug Name Dosing Regimen 60 mg PO QD; may increase to 120 to 240 mg/day 720 to 960 mg PO QD nifedipine (Adalat® CC, Procardia XL®) diltiazem (Dilacor XR®, Dilt-XR®, Cardizem® CD, Cartia XT®, Tiazac®, Taztia XT®, Cardizem® LA, Matzim® LA) amlodipine (Norvasc®) Therapeutic alternatives are listed as Brand name® (generic) when the drug is available by brand name only and generic (Brand name®) when the drug is available by both brand and generic. 20 to 30 mg PO QD 960 mg/day 30 mg/day Dose Limit/ Maximum Dose 240 mg/day Appendix C: Contraindications/Boxed Warnings None reported Appendix D: Pulmonary Hypertension: WHO Classification • Group 1: PAH • Group 2: PH due to left heart disease • Group 3: PH due to lung disease and/or hypoxemia • Group 4: CTEPH • Group 5: PH due to unclear multifactorial mechanisms Page 3 of 8

    CLINICAL POLICY
    Iloprost Monitoring for progression of PH and treatment of co- existing conditions Advanced treatment of PH with PH- targeted therapy

    • see Appendix F Appendix E: Pulmonary Hypertension: WHO/NYHA Functional Classes (FC) Treatment Approach Status at Rest FC Heart Failure I Comfortable at rest PA Limitations Tolerance of Physical Activity (PA) No limitation Ordinary PA does not cause undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope. II III IV Comfortable at rest Slight limitation Comfortable at rest Marked limitation Dyspnea or fatigue may be present at rest Inability to carry out any PA without symptoms Ordinary PA causes undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope. Less than ordinary PA causes undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope. Discomfort is increased by any PA.
      Signs of right heart failure
      PH supportive measures may include diuretics, oxygen therapy, anticoagulation, digoxin, exercise, pneumococcal vaccination.
      Advanced treatment options also include calcium channel blockers. Appendix F: Pulmonary Hypertension: Targeted Therapies Mechanism of Action Drug Subclass Drug Class Drug Brand/Generic Formulations Reduction of pulmonary arterial pressure through vasodilation Prostacyclin pathway agonist Prostacyclin Member of the prostanoid class of fatty acid derivatives. Synthetic prostacyclin analog Non-prostanoid prostacyclin receptor (IP receptor) agonist Selective receptor antagonist Endothelin receptor Epoprostenol Veletri (IV) Flolan (IV) Flolan generic (IV) Treprostinil Orenitram (oral tablet) Remodulin (IV) Tyvasco (inhalation) Ventavis (inhalation) Uptravi (oral tablet) Iloprost Selexipag Ambrisentan Letairis (oral tablet) Page 4 of 8

    CLINICAL POLICY
    Iloprost Mechanism of Action Drug Class Drug Subclass Drug antagonist (ETRA) Nitric oxide- cyclic guanosine monophosphate enhancer Nonselective dual action receptor antagonist Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor Guanylate cyclase stimulant (sGC) Bosentan Macitentan Sildenafil Tadalafil Riociguat Brand/Generic Formulations Tracleer (oral tablet) Opsumit (oral tablet) Revatio (IV, oral tablet, oral suspension) Adcirca (oral tablet) Adempas (oral tablet) V. Dosage and Administration
    Indication PAH Dosing Regimen 6 to 9 doses INH per day with at least 2 hours between doses; starting dose of 2.5 mcg, titrated to 5 mcg if well tolerated
    Maximum Dose 45 mcg/day VI. Product Availability
    Ampules: 10 mcg/mL, 20 mcg/mL VII.